Closure element

ABSTRACT

A closure element for a detachable, locking storage area in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The closure element comprises at least one clamping element designed for securing to a first component, in particular a plate-type component, by means of an elastic element, and with a handle which is pre-clamped by an elastic element for clamping a second component between the clamping element and the handle.

This application is a continuation of prior co-owned, U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/625,790, filed Jan. 22, 2007 now U.S. Pat No. 7,614,671 andentitled “Closure Element,” which claims priority to German ApplicationNo. 20 2006 001 129.3, filed on Jan. 24, 2006. The entire teachings ofthe referenced German Application is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a closure element, particularly for adetachable, locking storage area in a motor vehicle or the like, with atleast one clamping element which is designed for securing to a firstcomponent, in particular a plate-type component, by means of an elasticelement, and with a handle which is pre-clamped by an elastic elementfor clamping a second component, in particular a plate-type component,between the clamping element and the handle against at least oneclamping element.

In the trunk of a motor vehicle a so-called storage area is nowadaysoften provided, forming a flat surface in the trunk. Such a storage areais in most cases a plate which is arranged in the trunk of a vehicle sothat the plate can easily be removed, for example to allow access to acompartment arranged underneath the storage area for a spare wheel,tools or the like. In order to close such a compartment securely, andavoid rattling noises during travel, such a storage area must be fixedin the trunk. For this purpose different closure elements are used withwhich a storage area is clamped, engaged or retained by spring force.These systems of prior design are in some cases very expensive to fitand/or difficult for a user to handle.

Storage areas which can be completely removed from the trunk, and can bereversed, are also frequently used now. Here, for example, one side ismade flat and is provided with decorative material so that this sidefaces the interior of the trunk during normal use. The opposite side maybe designed, for example, so that it incorporates a loading trough oradditional means of fixing not prone to soiling. For example, this sidemay be coated with plastic or rubber. This side is therefore oftenfacing the interior of the trunk when soiled/dirty objects are to betransported. Such storage areas that can be used on both sides imposeheavy demands on their closure elements because the storage areas haveto be securely fixed in both positions.

A closure element of the type already mentioned is known for securing astorage area that can be used on both sides, which element is formed bya connecting clamp on which a shim is pre-tensioned by a compressionspring against a handle. To assemble a storage area in a vehicle trunkthe handle is first inserted from below through a slot in the floorplate of the trunk or the like area, so that the handle projects upwardsfrom this slot. By pulling on the handle it is pulled completely out ofthe slot against the force of the spring, wherein the shim comes to reston the bottom of the floor plate. In this position a U-shaped,plate-type clamping element is pushed laterally between the floor plateand the handle so that the clamping element comes to rest on theconnecting clamp. Such a slotlike opening in the clamping element is inthis case made so that the handle can no longer pass through theclamping element, and so that the entire closure element is clamped bythe force of the spring on the floor plate which is received between theshim and the separate clamping element. The handle can now be guidedthrough a storage area also provided with a slotlike recess and can bepulled further through it against the force of the spring. The recess inthe storage area is in this case made so that its length is greater thanits width. It is therefore possible for the handle to be fixed in aposition pulled through the storage area when it is rotated 90° relativeto the storage area. The storage area can therefore be secured on thefloor plate of the trunk or the like area.

On the other hand, one object of this invention is to provide a closureelement which is suitable for the detachable locking of a storage areathat can be used on both sides and enables a storage area with goodhandling characteristics to be securely fixed by a user.

This object is essentially achieved with a closure element of the typealready mentioned in that at least one of the clamping elements, theelastic element, and the handle, are combined to form a commonlymountable unit. When the closure element is assembled in a vehicle, forexample, it is therefore no longer necessary to secure the clampingelement to the pre-assembled closure element. On the contrary, it ispossible to secure the entire integral closure element to the floorplate of a trunk or the like area.

In a development of the concept of the invention provision is made forstop hooks and/or clamps to be fitted on a first component, inparticular resilient stop hooks and/or clamps. The closure element cantherefore be inserted from above in a correspondingly designed recess inthe floor plate of a trunk or the like area, and fixed there by the stophooks or clamps. Insertion and engagement of the closure elementaccording to the invention from above is particularly simple compared tothe assembly of a closure element, which is first inserted in a recessfrom the bottom of a floor plate and then locked from the opposite upperside of the floor plate or the like area. This allows not only fasterassembly of the closure element in a vehicle or the like, but alsoprovides improved protection against accidental loosening of the closureelement, from the floor plate, for example.

In a further development of this concept provision is made for the stophooks and/or clamps to be designed integrally with the clamping element,or to be inserted and/or cast in it. The assembly of the closure elementaccording to the invention before the assembly of the clamping element,e.g. in a vehicle, is facilitated thereby.

According to a further embodiment of the invention a first clampingelement is arranged so that it can be rotated relative to a secondclamping element, the two clamping elements each having projections andrecesses adapted to them, and each being capable of being swiveled fromthe assembly position in which the projection are in contact with eachother at the front, by rotating the clamping elements toward each otherinto a locking position in which the projections engage in the recesses.The projections and recesses may in this case be designed so that anessentially oblong cross-section is formed when the projections are incontact with each other at the front in the assembly position. On theother hand, a circular cross-section is formed in the locking positionby the two clamping elements so that they cannot be pushed out of theslotlike opening.

It is also preferable for the projections to engage in the lockingposition between two legs of a stop clamp, thereby locking them. In thisembodiment, a particularly effective protection of the closure elementaccording to the invention against accidental detachment from a floorplate or the like area is therefore possible when, in particular, thetwo clamping elements are swiveled 90° relative to each other from theirassembly position into the locking position.

To avoid rattling noises, the first component is preferably additionallyclamped by means of an elastic element. For this purpose two clampingelements may be provided which are pre-clamped against each other by anelastic element for fastening to the first component, e.g. a floorplate.

When at least one clamping element is formed from two regions that canbe swiveled in relation to each other, which regions can be swiveledfrom an essentially collapsed assembly position into an unfolded lockingposition, a particularly effective protection of the closure elementagainst accidental extraction from the first component, i.e. a floorplate or the like, can be achieved. In their collapsed assembly positionthe regions of the clamping element that can be swiveled can besatisfactorily inserted through a slotlike opening. However, aftercollapsing into their locking position, these regions that can beswiveled can then no longer be pulled through the slotlike opening.

In a further development of this concept of the invention it ispreferable for a first clamping element to be provided with bridges orthe like projections on its side facing a second clamping element,between which projections the two regions of the second clamping elementthat can be swiveled are fixed in the assembly position. This can alsobe achieved, in particular, by pre-clamping the swiveled regions betweenthe bridges by means of the elastic element. This retains the regions ofthe closure element that can be swiveled securely in their assemblyposition until they are transferred automatically or by means of a toolto their locking position.

In at least one the clamping elements, the handle and the elasticelement can preferably be swiveled relative to each other and aconnecting clamp or clip passed through them. In this case, at least oneclamping element is pre-clamped against the handle by the elasticelement. Since all the components of the closure element are heldtogether by the connecting clamp, the closure element according to theinvention may be assembled as one unit.

The invention further relates to a floor element, in particular astorage area for a vehicle or aircraft, with a plate-type component withwhich at least one closure element is associated for detachable fixing.In the plate-type component at least one recess is provided whose lengthis greater than its width, and whose size is at least equal to the sizeof the handle. The handle may in this way be inserted through theplate-type component, i.e. the storage area, in a first position, whilstthe handle is protected against slipping through the slotlike recess ina second position, for example a position swiveled 90° relative to theplate-type component.

To enable the storage area to be secured with the closure elementaccording to the invention, the spring path of the elastic element isequal to at least the thickness of the plate-type component (storagearea).

In the floor element according to the invention the two surfaces of theplate-type component opposing each other, i.e. the surfaces of thestorage area, for example, are provided with different materials, e.g.with a plastic or rubber surface on one side and with a fabric surfaceon the other.

Further advantages and possible applications of the invention areevident from the following description of embodiments and the drawing.Here all the characteristics described and/or diagrammaticallyrepresented together constitute the object of the invention,independently of their summary in the claims or their references.

Diagrammatically:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a closure element according to afirst embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 a shows in a perspective view a closure element according to asecond embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 b shows in a side elevation the closure element according to FIG.2 a,

FIG. 3 shows in a perspective view a closure element according to athird embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view a closure element according to afourth embodiment of the invention, and

FIGS. 5 a to 5 i show the assembly of the closure element according toFIG. 4 and the securing of a storage area by this closure element.

Closure element 1 represented in FIG. 1 is essentially formed by ahandle 2 with an annular opening, a base designed as a clamping element3 and a compression spring 4, which are retained on a connecting clamp 5or a clip, which extends through clamping element 3. Connecting clamp 5,as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, is designed as a loop from a strip ofsheet steel, which is overturned on its end facing away from handle 2. Apin 6 is passed through the end of connecting clamp 5 on the handle sideso that handle 2 can be swiveled about the axis of pin 6 relative toclamping element 3 and connecting clamp 5. Furthermore, handle 2 mayalso be rotated about a vertical axis shown in FIG. 1 relative toclamping element 1.

The base-type clamping element 3 exhibits a plate 3 a facing handle 2and projections 3 b are arranged at a distance from the plate,underneath it, in which projections stop hooks 7 are cast in the designaccording to FIG. 1. Stop hooks 7 are formed from spring steel and maybe swiveled elastically inwards, for example in order to pass through aslotlike opening. The representation in FIG. 1 shows the unloadedposition of stop hooks 7.

Compression spring 4 is supported on the lower peripheral edge ofconnecting clamp 5 and is designed so that it elastically pre-clampsclamping element 3 against handle 2 in the condition shown in FIG. 1.Handle 2 may consequently be pulled vertically upwards against the forceof spring 4 and raised from clamping element 3.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a second embodiment of a closure element whichhas essentially the same construction as closure element 1 explainedabove with reference to FIG. 1. However, stop hooks 7, as can be seen inFIG. 2 a, are not cast in projections 3 b of clamping element 3 but areinserted or clamped laterally in corresponding recesses in projections 3b. Moreover, the closure element is fitted with an additional clampingelement 8, which is designed in the shape of a plate and is arrangedbetween plate 3 a of clamping element 3 and stop hook 7.

As can be seen from the view in FIG. 2 b, an elastic element 9 isarranged between clamping element 8 and plate 3 a of clamping element 3,which element can be designed integrally with the first and/or secondclamping element 3 or 8 respectively.

A closure element is mounted on a plate-type component, for example afloor plate 10 of a vehicle trunk, indicated in FIG. 2 b, by insertingthe closure element from above in a slotlike opening in floor plate 10.Here the slotlike opening is preferably made so that its inner contourcorresponds essentially to the outer contour of the section formed byprojections 3 b of clamping element 3. The lower end of connectingclamps 5, with compression spring 4 and the section of projections 3 b,may therefore be inserted in floor plate 10 through the opening. In thiscase stop hooks 7 are elastically compressed so that they are able topass through floor plate 10. In FIG. 2 b stop hooks 7 are swiveledoutwards back to their position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a, because oftheir elastic readjusting forces, so that the closure element can nolonger be pulled up through the opening in floor plate 10.

The force of spring 9 forces the plate-type second clamping element 8against the top of floor plate 10 so that floor plate is clamped by thespring-loaded clamping element 8 between the plate-type region 3 a ofthe first clamping element and stop hook 7. In this position handle 2can now be pulled vertically upwards relative to the first clampingelement 3 and floor plate 10 against the force of compression spring 4,so that handle 2 is raised from plate-type region 3 a of clampingelement 3. This creates a clearance between the bottom of handle 2 andthe top of clamping element 3, in which clearance a plate-typecomponent, e.g. a storage area 19 indicated in FIG. 5 i, can be clampedby the force of compression spring 4.

A further design of a closure element is shown in FIG. 3. In this designhandle 2, compression spring 4 and connecting clamps 5 are designed asdescribed above. However, clamping element 11 arranged betweencompression spring 4 and handle 2 is formed from an upper plate-typeregion 11 a and a separate lower region 11 b, with stop clamps 12. Hereconnecting clamp 5 passes through both separate regions 11 a and 11 b ofclamping element 11 so that they can be rotated relative to each other.

As FIG. 3 shows, both the upper plate-type region 11 a and lower region11 b of clamping element 11 are each provided with two projections 13 aand 13 b respectively, as well as two recesses 14 a and 14 brespectively. FIG. 3 shows the closure element in an assembly positionin which projections 13 a and 13 b lie adjacent to each other at thefront and recesses 14 a and 14 b lie flush with each other. Recesses 14b also extend into an intermediate space between stop clamps 12, so thatthey can be pressed elastically inwards in the assembly position shownin FIG. 3 in order to pass through an opening in a floor plate 10, asdescribed above.

After passing through an opening in floor plate 10, for example, thelegs of stop hooks 12 swivel elastically back into the position shown inFIG. 3. In order to lock the closure element on floor plate 10, theplate-type upper region 11 a is now rotated 90° relative to the lowerregion 11 b. Projections 13 a of plate-type region 11 a then opposerecesses 14 b of lower region 11 b, and projections 13 b correspondinglyoppose recesses 14 a. Projections 13 a and 13 b, as well as recesses 14a and 14 b, are in this case adapted to each other so that they are ableto engage in each other. After plate-type region 11 a is rotatedrelative to lower region 11 b, projections 13 a and 13 b thereforeengage in recesses 14 b and 14 a respectively due to the force ofcompression spring 4. As a result of this, projections 13 a also lie inrecess 14 b between the legs of stop clamps 12, locking them so thatstop clamps 12 can no longer be compressed and consequently can nolonger pass through an opening in floor plate 10. Here compressionspring 4 pre-tensions 12 the stop clamp against floor plate 10, on whoseopposite side lies plate-type region 11 a of clamping element 11. Floorplate 10 is therefore clamped elastically between the two regions 11 aand 11 b of clamping element 11.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a closure element where handle 2,compression spring 4 and connecting clamps 5 are again designed asexplained above. In this design two clamping elements 15 and 16 areprovided between compression spring 4 and handle 2, connecting clamp 5passing through both these elements. Here clamping element 16 is alsoprovided with two swivel regions 16 and 16, as also shown, inparticular, in FIGS. 5 c to 5 e, which regions are shown in FIGS. 4 and5 c in their essentially collapsed assembly position. Bridges 17, whichhave an interruption, are provided on the side of plate-type clampingelement 15 facing clamping element 16, so that both regions 16 and 16 bare retained between bridges 17.

As shown in FIG. 5 a, the clamping unit in this assembly position can beinserted in a slotlike opening in a plate-type component, e.g. a floorplate 10 of a trunk floor, by means of a tool 18 which rests on thearticulated section connecting regions 16 and 16 b.

The size of the opening in floor plate 10 is in this case made so thatconnecting clamps 5, compression spring 4 and both regions 16 a and 16 bof clamping element 16 are able to pass through the opening in theassembly position. The closure element is pressed by tool 18 into theopening until bridges 17 of clamping element 15 lie on the top of floorplate 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 b and 5 c. Now when clamping element 16 ispressed further downwards by tool 18 against the force of compressionspring 4, as shown in FIG. 5 d, regions 16 and 16 become detached fromtheir locking position between bridges 17 and can be swiveled outwards.

Now if tool 18 is pulled up, spring 4 forces both regions 16 a and 16 bfrom below against floor plate 10, as shown in FIG. 5 e, regions 16 aand 16 b being swiveled into a collapsed locking position in which theycan no longer pass through the opening in floor plate 10. This positionis also shown in FIG. 5 f. Clamping element 15 can then be rotated 90°relative to clamping element 16 and 90° relative to floor plate 10, sothat both bridges 17 engage in the opening in floor plate 10. Floorplate 10 is then clamped by the force of spring 4 between clampingelements 15 and 16.

For securing storage area 19, handle 2 is raised from floor plate 10against the force of spring 4, so that handle 2 extends through theslotlike opening in storage area 19. The handle is pulled up until ithas completely passed through the slotlike opening in the storage area19. In this position handle 2 can be rotated 90° relative to storagearea 19 about a vertical axis so that handle 2 can no longer lead backthrough the slotlike opening in storage area 19. Instead, storage areais forced by the force of spring 4 by handle 2 against floor plate 10 sothat storage area 19 is fixed in a trunk or like area.

Furthermore, a recess 20 can be formed in storage area 19 so that handle2, as shown in FIG. 5 i, can be folded into the recess in its positionlocking storage area 19 about the axis of pin 6. In this position handle2 lies essentially in the same plane as the surface of storage area 19.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   1 Closure element-   2 Handle-   3 Clamping element-   3 a Plate-type region-   3 b Projection-   4 Compression spring-   5 Connecting clamp-   6 Pin-   7 Stop hook-   8 Clamping element-   9 Elastic element-   10 Plate-type component (floor plate)-   11 Clamping element-   11 a Plate-type region-   11 b Lower region-   12 Stop clamp-   13 a, 13 b Projection-   14 a, 14 b Recess-   15 Clamping element-   16 Clamping element-   17 Bridge-   18 Tool-   19 Plate-type component (storage area)-   20 Recess

1. A one piece closure element, comprising: a handle, a clampingelement, wherein the clamping element has a plate-type component locatedproximate to the handle, and at least one projection having at least onestop hook, a compression spring, wherein the clamping element is locatedbetween the compression spring and the handle; a connecting clamp,wherein the handle, the clamping element, and the compression spring areconnected by the connecting clamp; and at least one pin, wherein the atleast one pin passes through the handle and the connecting clamp therebyallowing for the handle to swivel about the axis of the pin.
 2. Theclosure element of claim 1, wherein the at least one stop hook isembedded within the at least one projection.
 3. The closure element ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one projection includes a recess, andwherein the at least one stop hook is positioned within the recess ofthe at least one projection.
 4. The closure element of claim 1, whereinthe at least one stop hook is formed integrally with the at least oneprojection.
 5. The closure element of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprojection includes a first projection and a second projection.